For those who have never seen one, an Iridium flare is one of the greatest manmade phenomena ever--albeit probably completely unintentional. The Iridium are a group of satellites that happen to have extremely reflective aluminum antenna coated with Teflon. During certain points in these satellites' orbits, the observer-satellite-Sun angle causes a large amount of light to shine down to the viewer for a period of seconds. It is truly an incredible experience. I've seen several.

Sadly, the replacement satellites will not "flare" like the ones they are replacing. The old Iridiums only have a few months left. A lecture entitled "The Final Flares" will explain how to search for these remaining predicted events with family and friends. The lecture will be at HRPO on Friday 23 December at 7:30pm. The talk is for a general adult audience and has no admission fee.

Catch Iridium flares before they're gone! As many as possible will be posted with as much notice as possible. Check this thread daily.

*Wed 28 Feb, 7:26pm to 7:30pm CST [magnitude -8.1 on a line from Morgan City, Pierre Part, between Allemania and St. Gabriel, River Road west of LSU Golf Course, Pine Street and Fourth Street in Port Allen, Lindsay and Jackson]*Thu 1 Mar, 5:43am to 5:47am CST [magnitude -7.9 on a line from the Highway 1/Highway 3185 intersection, Welcome Park, Sorrento, Port Vincent, Walker and Baywood]

All "lines" will be described from south to north or from west to east. A fairly good magnitude can be seen probably from within twelve kilometers of these lines. Check with Heavens Above and plug in your actual location...http://www.heavens-above.com

The passover of tonight's Iridium flare:from Amelia, through Lake Palourde and Grassy Lake, cutting through Attakapas Landing and the extreme east of Elm Hall Wildlife Management Area, west of Paincourtville and Belle Rose, just east of Highway 1/Rocky Canal intersection, crossing Mississippi River between Carville and Honeywell, eastern St. Gabriel, just east of HRPO, east side of Village St. George, west of Resthaven Cemetary, through North Sherwood Forest and Monticello, western Central, just east of Joor/Denham intersection, just east of Milldale Baptist Church, just west of Reames/Port Hudson-Pride intersection, just west of Plank Road/Highway 10 intersection

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